Louisiana wrestling community divided over Shreveport decision

When the Louisiana High School Athletic Association executive committee voted last week to award the 2011 and 2012 state wrestling tournament to Shreveport, it did so with a unanimous vote.

Eliot Kamenitz/The Times-PicayuneSchools like Jesuit could run into academic obstacles.

But that vote has done nothing but divide the state's wrestling community.

Of the state's 77 wrestling teams, seven are from schools located above the I-10/I-12 corridor. The past six Division I champions have been either Baton Rouge-Catholic, Jesuit or Brother Martin. With faithful followings, these local teams and others have turned the annual state tournament at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner into a huge event, even setting an attendance record of 11,063 at this year's competition.

But now coaches and fans are convinced that moving the event, which will be held Feb. 11-12, 2011, and Feb. 10-11, 2012, to north Louisiana will not only hurt the event, but could do irreparable harm to the sport.

Bertot said his wrestlers now will miss an extra day of school to travel the extra distance, and they will have to spend at least three nights at a hotel.

"Jesuit doesn't like its kids being out of school at all, much less a day or two, " Bertot said. "This means taking the kids out of school a day earlier than usual and staying up there three days."

More than that, Bertot said, it means family and friends likely won't be able to make the trip to watch.

"I think we've got a very loyal following, " Bertot said. "And it wasn't very hard to get to the Pontchartrain Center. I think a few die-hards will make the drive, but some others who might have gone, won't."

Brother Martin Coach Robbie Dauterive agreed.

"Just what it's going to do in attendance is going to cost us quite a bit, " Dauterive said. "Our alumni, the kids who used to wrestle, many of them won't be able to go. And probably a lot of parents won't be able to go.

"I don't want to offend the Shreveport people. It doesn't have to be in New Orleans. But it needs to be closer."

Indeed, Internet chatrooms and message boards are full of messages to that effect.

Posted one Jesuit parent: "What it's going to change is that, instead of 40 to 50 relatives and friends watching my son wrestle, it is only going to be dad. Everyone else will see the video."

Several local wrestling referees posted that they doubted they would be able to make the trip because of the expense and the hardship to their jobs and families. Jeff Domangue was one of those.

"For myself, it's going to be a challenge, " said Domangue, a self-employed heating and air conditioning technician who has officiated wrestling in the New Orleans area for 13 years. "I won't be able to commit until probably the week of the tournament. And they'll need 24 officials for the show to go on. It's going to be difficult for me to go."

But the Shreveport Regional Sports Authority made an offer that was hard for the LHSAA to refuse, including use of the Century Tel Center in Bossier City at no cost. The Pontchartrain Center had been rent-free, but this year requested $14,000 for staffing and security. There also were several conflicts with the carnival season and several Mardi Gras balls scheduled at the Pontchartrain Center.

The Shreveport bid also offered a free hotel room to every coach, 60 cents per mile of travel and a $200 stipend for each team.

"It was a very impressive bid, " said LHSAA assistant commissioner B.J. Guzzardo. "Each year, (the Pontchartrain Center) has been shrinking. We have so many kids that wrestle, you've got to have a place to put them, too. They take up a lot of space. This place (Century Tel) is a perfect wrestling venue.''

James Ravannack, who has run the tournament for the LHSAA since 1996, agreed.

"The venue is very nice, " Ravannack said. "It's a 12,000-seat arena, and it's in a bowl, so that's good. The bad news is, 80 percent of the teams are from the southern half of the state. We'll certainly push it and promote it the best we can. I'm sure we'll have to accommodate some people with work schedules. But, keep in mind that the people from up north have already been having to take those days off from work."

"Change is good, " Guzzardo said. "The bottom line is, we've got to do what's best for the sport and for the kids."

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Lori Lyons can be reached at llyons@timespicayune.com or 985.652.0959.